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Discussion

2 1/2 year commitment to your hiring unit??

Hi Everyone,

I am curious if anyone else is finding this situation; the hiring unit requires a 2 year stay after orientation. That's 2 1/2 years on that unit; a long commitment for a brand new RN. There is no contract or paperwork involved there is also no tuition repayment, no sign on bonus or nurse residency involved either. I have seen commitment requirements in those situations, and I understand it in those cases. The commitment is in exchange for the 6 month orientation and the classes you take throughout orientation. The classes are taught "in-house" by nurse educators. Other units in my hospital system do not require any time commitment and many of those units require nearly the same classes. I would appreciate thoughts, opinions and hearing about other's experiences and how you handled this. Thanks!!

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    • Featured Replies

    If there is no contract, why are you obligated to stay that long? Unless you sign sometime agreeing to the 2.5 years, then it isn't a requirement. The facility may not transfer you before that time, but there doesn't seem to be any negative consequences for leaving early.

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    It sounds as though they are asking you to commit, but if there is no contract you are under no requirement to do so.

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    • Experts

    A 6-month orientation with classes interspersed with preceptored clinical practice is pretty much a "residency" even if they don't call it that. They are spending big bucks to orient you and want some assurance that you are going to be worth the investment. But as others have pointed out, if there are no negative consequences attached to leaving -- and no contract, it is really just a statement of their preference, not a legal committment. However, they could block your transfer to another department in the same facility -- and they can give you a bad job recommendation.

    Such requirements are becoming more common as hospitals are squeezed financially and are not wanting to invest in nursing orientation without some assurance of a decent return on their inveestment. I think that is understandable and we nurses are going to have to adjust some of our expectations accordingly. However -- there are limits, of course, as to what is reasonable and what is not.

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    Sounds like it is like where I am going. If I want to transfer anywhere within the facility or health system, I have to work on my unit for a year. However, I can always choose to go outside the health system.

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    I just got hired on for a new grad transition program and the requirement is to stay on your selected unit a minimum of 6 months. 2 years seems a bit harsh to me. I could maybe understand agreeing to stay in the hospital that long, but not a unit.

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    • Experts

    My advice is always this: Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. Hopefully you will love it there and want to stay forever. However if the worst were to happen, it was not a good fit or you didn't like it, you could always approach your superior and ask to xfer elsewhere. Of course they are asking you to commit to 2.5 years (that is a bit excessive and sends red flags to me) but if you do not sign anything, worst case scenario= you leave and they can be mad, but can't do much else. But I would caution you against signing anything. If they give you any contract or paperwork to sign, tell them you will take it home and thoroughly review it.

    Do not sign ANYTHING unless you fully read it.

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    • Author

    Hi and thanks for the replies! Jeeezzz the things you don't know to ask when interviewing for your first job-right!! A couple of things...the hospital's HR policy is that you stay on your hiring unit for 6 months before moving. I think this is totally reasonable. The unit that I am now working on has the 2.5 year (requested) commitment. I did not sign anything and would never. Maybe, just maybe, if there was a tuition forgiveness program or a full-blown residency program I would consider making that type of commitment in writing. In doing some reading and asking around it does seem that a commitment like this is usually to a hospital or hospital system and not to a unit. Another thing a few people have pointed out to me is a big fat RED FLAG (this honestly didn't cross my mind at the time) why do they feel the need to ask for that term commitment what the heck kind of turnover do they have??!! Well in retrospect I guess that should have crossed my mind. Oh well. I am making the best of it and will take everything I can fromt he experience. Thanks again for the thoughts and I would appreciate any additional comments.

    LF

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    It costs between $60,000 and $75,000 to orient a new grad. I think that hospitals are just trying to get some return on their money

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    I don't know where you are but I am here in Southern California where jobs are scarce. I am fortunate enough to have been hired recently (new grad RN, June 2011), I plan on holding on to this job as long as I can!!! Super thankful. There are new grads around here that have been searching for their first jobs for over a year!!!! Basically what I am saying is that in the broad scheme of life, 2.5 years really isn't that long and pretty much what you are going to need to say that "you have previous experience" on your resumes and applications.

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    I don't know where you are but I am here in Southern California where jobs are scarce. I am fortunate enough to have been hired recently (new grad RN, June 2011), I plan on holding on to this job as long as I can!!! Super thankful. There are new grads around here that have been searching for their first jobs for over a year!!!! Basically what I am saying is that in the broad scheme of life, 2.5 years really isn't that long and pretty much what you are going to need to say that "you have previous experience" on your resumes and applications.

    It will feel long if she ends up hating her unit.

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